Outreach Services

Programs and services for seniors, persons with disabilities, and others needing additional assistance.

For more information on any of the following programs or if you are interested in volunteering with any of these programs, please contact Mary Kabel, Third Age Project Coordinator, at 859-3288 or email her at maryskabel@gmail.com.

Services for the Elderly and Disabled

The Cedar Falls Public Library has several programs designed especially for seniors. Third Age Project began with a grant that was developed by the Cedar Falls and Waterloo Public Libraries, the Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging and the Jesse Cosby Center.

This program provides library and other associated outreach services to seniors where they live and gather. In other words, this outreach targets senior citizens-both active seniors and those confined to their homes, or those living in assisted living facilities or nursing/retirement homes.

Homebound Services

The Cedar Falls Public Library provides delivery service to those senior citizens and patrons with disabilities who are unable to get to the library. Qualifying patrons receive a special library card which enables them to borrow materials for up to eight weeks and there are never any overdue fines or replacement costs for lost materials. Library materials are delivered by volunteers or library staff at no charge.

Nursing/Retirement Homes and Senior Centers

The Cedar Falls Public Library also loans out collections of large print books and audio books on a rotating basis to various nursing/retirement homes,senior apartment complexes and senior centers in Cedar Falls. Trained volunteers are also available to read to nursing/retirement home residents.

Vision and Mobility Aids at the Library

Vision Aids

The second floor has two new aids for visually impaired patrons to use on-site. The TV type low vision aid magnifies items up to 65 times using soft touch controls and auto focus. Patrons can view books, family photos, cards, maps etc in black on white, white on black and vivid color. The TV low vision aid sits on an adjustable height table accompanied in order to accommodate those patrons with mobility problems. A moveable pole magnifier is also available for patrons to use on-site.

Mobility Aids

Elderly or disabled patrons can use our motorized cart and new wheelchair to help them move about the library more easily. These devices are located near the Circulation desk on the first floor of the library. Just ask the staff there for the key to the motorized cart. They will help retrieve the cart or wheelchair for you.

Senior Book Clubs

The Cedar Falls Public Library sponsors and coordinates four book clubs at various senior outreach sites in Cedar Falls. Currently there are seven thriving book clubs at: The Ledges, Mallard Point, Western Home, Windcove, Windermere, Windhaven and Willowwood.

The Cedar Falls and Waterloo Public Libraries also have several discussion sets to loan to any book club in the state or our metro area. Libraries are also welcome to borrow our book discussion sets-many of which contain large print titles as well as audio tapes. Click here to access a list of titles currently available to borrow free of charge.